Council unanimously approved the fiscal‑year 2026 plan for the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area on Tuesday, endorsing staff recommendations to allocate tax‑increment revenue to housing, commercial corridor improvements and workforce development.

Economic and Workforce Development staff presented a $20.9 million appropriation of city and county TIF revenue (total CRA activity including rollovers and project funds approximated $51 million). The FY26 operating plan earmarked roughly $12.2 million for housing and neighborhood revitalization, $9.5 million for business and commercial development, $1.6 million for workforce and education, and $2.2 million for operations and personnel.

Key allocations include $4.5 million for an affordable housing redevelopment loan program (multifamily incentives and debt service for future incentives), $3.1 million for single‑family housing programs and down‑payment assistance, and $2 million for commercial‑corridor planning on 22nd Street South and 49th Street South. Staff said adult workforce programming will be renewed under a new contract and that the CRA will continue support for the St. Pete Youth Farm and neighborhood plans.

Andrea Falvey, the department presenter, told council the budget was recommended unanimously by the CRA Citizens Advisory Committee and is designed to leverage county and city TIF funds to advance projects in housing, small business development and neighborhood infrastructure.